Paul Hackett backs Brown in Ohio Senate race

[wicket]

LINK

Democrat Paul Hackett, who angrily quit the Senate race in February after a shove from party leaders, endorsed his former primary rival on Monday in the high-stakes race in Ohio.

Hackett, anIraq war veteran, said his fight with Rep. Sherrod Brown (news, bio, voting record) is over, and the two rallied in Cincinnati on Monday to show their unity. Hackett blamed himself for fomenting discord within the party, saying he suddenly realized last Thursday that he was unnecessarily hurting them both by sulking over the way his primary challenge ended.

"I was cutting my grass and said to myself ... it's totally unproductive for me to be largely responsible for this antagonistic relationship between me and Sherrod," Hackett told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.

Hackett's about-face in supporting Brown was significant. A month ago, he told the AP that Brown was "puking out the same old garbage" and not inspiring swing voters.

[MADem]

1. Uh, oh....this is like a roller coaster

I've been watching all the reaction to Hackett here over the months. First, it was HERO, HERO, speaks truth to power, the establishment Democrats are bastards for not backing him! Then it was wait, wait, Brown is the better guy, all politics is local....then it was Hackett, what an asshole, no he isn't, yes he is, why can't he go gracefully, why SHOULD he go gracefully!!!

Then, just this past week, there were all those HACKETT THE LAWYER threads...oh, he's a BUM, he went after MURTHA, no, he's just defending his client, OH, NO, but he's evil; but aren't they entitled to a defense????

So here we go, again!!!

[OzarkDem]

9. Sherrod is a great guy, and superb candidate, end of story

Who knows what Hackett is up to, Brown certainly doesn't need his support at this point.

[MADem]

15. Hey, all politics is LOCAL--and if the voters say that's their guy, then

that is THEIR GUY. I never questioned the decision, it ain't my neighborhood! I just found it interesting, all the angst about that race...!

I suppose the endorsement can't hurt, especially if Hackett has a cadre of disaffected supporters remaining...

[OzarkDem]

20. Rove inspired angst ...n/t

[brentspeak]

2. Where's all the Hackett bashers?

I'm glad I refused to join the peanut gallery that abandoned their fair-weathered support for Hackett. I still want to see Hackett in Congress for us Democrats.

[LSK]

4. maybe Hackett was reading DU last week

And that prompted his change.

:shrug:

[LittleClarkie]

10. Sorry. I still think he's a shmuck.

I've only seen a few real bashers. Some are just disillusioned by some of his appearances. I reckon this move by him won't change that.

[The Magistrate]

21. Clearly, Sir, The Party Slate-Makers Made The Right Choice

In side-lining Maj. Hackett. He has proved himself to be a loose cannon, and far too prone to assailing other Democrats to have ever made a good state-wide candidate. His belated acquiesence in the candidacy of Rep. Brown goes some way to reducing the damage he has done lately, but not nearly far enough.

[Omaha Steve]

3. I NEVER bashed Paul

I gave to his campaign for Congress that was so close. Notice I'm in Omaha, not Ohio. Sherrod has paid his dues though, and I hope he wins. Will there be an honest election there this time?

[OhioBlue]

5. Good for Paul!!!

www.oh02.com will probably have more info later.

the end of the yahoo piece:
"I didn't realize Democrats endorsing Democrats was news," DeWine spokesman Brian Seitchik said.

tee hee.... well, Mr. Seitchik, this endorsement IS news, especially in Ohio Politics.... and great news for Ohio Democrats.

[OzarkDem]

8. DeWine's campaign got it right

The primary was over May 2, what took Hackett so long to do the right thing? He must be trying to capitalize on this in some way.

[OhioBlue]

11. Awww c'mon Ozark,

Even if you don't like Hackett, there are a lot of Dems (especially SW Ohio Dems) that do, and this is nothing but good news for Sherrod and the Senate campaign.

:hug:

[OzarkDem]

12. I don't trust him, sorry

I respect the rights of a small group of SW Ohioans to like the guy, but, considering his past actions and comments, I don't trust him. At all.

[OhioBlue]

13. He helped with a fundraiser for Strickland too.

I know you and I can both agree that it is "all hands on deck" for this election year. I'm glad to see him working to support the ticket.

[OzarkDem]

14. The best thing he could do

is fade away. Seriously, I don't trust him. I hope the ODP and Dem candidates watch him very closely between now and November.

[WI_DEM]

6. Good news!

[OzarkDem]

7. The party leaders didn't shove him far enough

This guy is a lunatic. I hope he turns GOP again.

His behavior from the beginning has been despicable. He took advantage of Dems who tried to help him, then turned on them when they realized he was a loose cannon and a prima donna who wasn't up to running for US Senate. He responded by trying to trash the reputation of one of the staunchest, hard working Dem progressives in Congress.

His recent trashing of John Murtha and other Dems only reinforces his questionable loyalties.

Sherrod will be the gentleman that he is and will accept Paul's support, but Sherrod's supporters don't feel as charitable towards him. At least Dems have learned an important lesson about jumping on the bandwagon of candidates with little background and experience.

On edit: Hackett's recent attacks on John Murtha also show he hasn't changed. I'll begin to be convinced if he apologizes to Murtha, too.

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[OzarkDem]

18. Sorry to disappoint you

But Sherrod Brown is the Democratic candidate in this race and since this is a Democratic forum, I make no apologies for supporting him.

He's the best candidate, he was from the beginning, he is running an excellent race, he will win. If that offends you, there's not much I can do about it.

The behavior of Hackett and his supporters in this race has been the most hateful and divisive of any I've seen in my 20 yrs of being active in Democratic politics. You owe all Dems an apology and your attempts to continue to insult Ohio Dems who support our candidates are falling flat.

Take your projection somewhere else, its not selling here.

[brentspeak]

23. Did I "project" this?

OzarkDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Journal Sun Mar-19-06 10:41 PM
Original message
"How many Hackett supporters are going to see Bush tomorrow?
I'm sure there will be quite a few in the audience. He's your man."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=172&topic_id=15791&mesg_id=15791

OzarkDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Journal Sun Mar-19-06 11:07 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. "Too bad.
Many of the Hackett folk have already shown their true colors and they're not Democrats."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=172&topic_id=15791&mesg_id=15814

[Cha]

16. I'm glad he was cutting

his grass then..cause as a DUer said.."It's all hands on deck time". Leave your freakin' ego in a vault.

[OzarkDem]

19. Hackett cutting his grass

Interesting comment from Hackett that he's the only person in his neighborhood who cuts his own grass.

Did you know who his neighbors are? Carl Lindner and a long list of other Bush Pioneers.

BTW, has Hackett apologized to John Murtha yet?

[wicket]

22. kick

:kick: